[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Friday, 19 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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The Führer departs the headquarters of Army Group South, which begins a counteroffensive toward Kharkov, Ukraine and Belgorod, Russia.

Rommel launches a surprise counter-attack at Kasserine Pass, Tunisia, overwhelming the fresh but inexperienced Americans.

U 182 (IXD2; Kptlt. Asmus Nicolai Clausen) has been in the Cape Town area for 14 days. She sank the English steamer "Blanashe" 4,836 GRT, on the 17th February in KZ 42, course 285°. No other traffic observed the whole time.

Convoy No. 9 (ON.165):
On the 19th also the weather situation was extremely unfavorable in the convoy area. Wind was S.E. 7 at midday, with low visibility from 2 - 3 miles. In the afternoon at 1554 U 525 (Kptlt. Hans-Joachim Drewitz) again contacted the convoy. The boat reported up to 5 steamers in BC 2939. According to two later reports of contact it was not 2938 but 2638. U 525 reported at 1950 for the last time the enemy in BC 2652 course 240 speed 4 knots. At the same time the boat fired a three-fan torpedo which missed.
U 707 (Oblt. Günther Gretschel) reported two destroyers at 1730 in BC 2595 with course N.E. convoy suspected there. Further reports on the convoy have not been received. Owing to fuel shortage of the boats the operation against the convoy was broken off at dawn on the morning of the 20th.
U 525 reported having sunk a single vessel of 6,000 GRT at 0508. This was probably a steamer separated from the convoy, since it was assumed that the convoy could not keep together owing to the continuously bad weather situation.
For this reason the boats were to patrol the area astern the convoy again in daylight, on the way to the supply rendezvous, in order to search out further solitary vessels.
Final Survey of Convoy No. 9:
The operation on the convoy was begun with 12 boats of which half were very low in fuel from the start and not able to carry out a long operation. The area was also unfavorable, in which the convoy was detected. The boats only had a small area for operations.
The bad conditions of weather and current in this area did not permit a successful operation. In spite of the fact that there was continuous contact with the convoy by U 525 from the afternoon of the 18th up to the morning of the 19th at 1000, it was not possible to bring up more boats. The reasons were the facilities lacking for fixes by the boats on account of low visibility and a continual heavy sea in an area where unfavorable current conditions must result in great deviation in fixes of the boats. The operation was being carried on in that area in which the Gulf Stream and Labrador Stream meet and, therefore, result in inestimable current conditions. The only possible means of counteracting these differences in fixes, i.e. by sending out beacon signals, was not successful although U 525 continually sent out signals from the convoy location. The signals were probably either not heard or only faintly heard by the other boats on account of the rough weather.
Sunk: 2 ships from this convoy, together 14,000 GRT.
Out of the 12 boats of this Group, 5 boats were up to the convoy. Two boats attacked the convoy, one boat hit a single vessel separated from the convoy.
U 201 (Oblt. Günther Rosenberg; ex U-Schnee) and U 69 (Kptlt. Ulrich Gräf; ex. U-Metzler, "The Laughing Cow") which were both up to the convoy at the beginning of the operation, have not reported any more since then. They may be assumed lost. No damage by enemy action was reported by the boats.

U 456 (Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert) refueled from "Milkcow" U 460 (Kptlt. Ebe Schnoor). Tanker will be ready for supplying Group "Taifun" in BC 42 on 21st February at 1100.

U 268 (Oblt. Ernst Heydemann) was due to come into Brest on the morning of the 19th February. Boat has not yet arrived; orders to report on position not yet answered. In view of report on sighting by British aircraft from BF 5462 an attack is presumed, sub-chasers sent out to search, air force intends to send out 2 airplanes. No result yet.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

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Saturday, 20 February 1943 - Danzig

At Danziger Werft AG, for Repairs and Overhaul.

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Admiral Kurt Fricke steps down as the Chief of the Department of Naval Operations at the Navy High Command. On 21 March, he will be made the commanding officer of Naval Group Command South.

German and Italian troops defeat American troops at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, making the first use of their new 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 rocket launcher; the force attacking Sbiba Pass, is met with stronger resistance.

U 516 (Korvkpt. Gerhard Wiebe) sank the American tanker "Deer Lodge" 6,187 GRT course 60°, on the 17th February in KZ 4113. The boat had been patrolling from the 10 - 17 February in KY 6263 - 6566 and KZ 4110 and sighted 3 ships in all. No increased or regular east-west traffic observed.

Situation U 518 (Kptlt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann): Has been in the operational area off the Brazilian coast for 8 days. Only single escorted and unescorted vessels sighted along the 200 m. line. Neutral traffic continuing. Modern freighter of 8,000 GRT course 220° speed 13 knots sunk on the 18th February in FJ 8577. Air cover in the area strong, continual in some parts. After the sinking, location of aircraft by night.

U 106 (Kptlt. Hermann Rasch; ex Oesten) reported a convoy of over 20 steamers at 2318 in BE 98 course 150°. Since there were no boats in the vicinity U 106 had freedom of action. She was however, forced to dive, owing apparently to the strong defence of the convoy, and lost contact.

U 504 (Kptlt. Wilhelm Luis) dived in DG 1487 in view of single corvette with mean course 50°. Since this was possibly an escort vessel and, in this case, there might be other ships in the vicinity U 504 received orders to pursue. The remaining boats of Group "Rochen" excluding U 258 and 264 proceeded immediately on course 120°, speed 7 knots. No further reports received.

Convoy No. 10 (ON.166):
On the 20th February, 1055, U 604 (Kptlt. Horst Höltring) reported a hydrophone fix, wide spread. So that it was assumed that this was the expected S.W. bound convoy. When, an hour later, the boat reported a steamer with 3 corvettes it was safe to order further boats to operate against the convoy. Operational orders were given to U 600, 91, 92, 603, 454, 332, 753, 621, 623, 628, 653, 225, 377 and 468 16 boats in all, therefore. At 1347 U 604 reported the convoy in AK 9618. She maintained contact, with two short intervals, until 0324 on the 21st February. She was forced off by destroyers and was depth-charged. The convoy was again reported by U 332 (Oblt. Eberhard Hüttemann), according to hydrophone fix, to be in BD 3172 at 0740.
The convoy then proceeded on an initial south-westerly course and later on a straight southerly course and, according to dead reckoning, had a speed of almost 8 knots, which indicates an ON convoy. 16-20 steamers were reported by U 604.
On the 20th February no further boats approached the convoy in spite of continuous contact by U 604, probably on account of the fog by day and constantly changing visibility at night.
The operation on the convoy is continuing with Groups "Ritter" and "Knappen".

U 522 (Kptlt. Herbert Schneider) refueled from "Milkcow" U 461 (Kptlt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler).

U 211 (Kptlt. Karl Hause) was heavily bombed by aircraft in BE 1658 and is returning in view of reduced diving capacity.

There is no further news from U 268 (Oblt. Ernst Heydemann). The boat was not found by air units and sub-chasers and must be assumed lost.

U 201 (Oblt. Günther Rosenberg; ex U-Schnee) and U 69 (Kptlt. Ulrich Gräf; ex. U-Metzler, "The Laughing Cow"), last reported on the evening of the 17th February near Convoy No. 9 (ON.165). The boats reported contacts from BC 3136 or BC 3252. Since there are no reports of aircraft, loss by action of escort units probable.

American movie studio executives agreed to allow the Office of War Information to censor movies.

U 648 (Ltnt.z.S.d.R. Peter-Arthur Stahl) conducts Torpedo Firing Training with the 25th Flotilla Danzig.

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RST
KorvKpt.& Cmdr. U 115